Kohima: Angami Students’ Union (ASU), the apex student body of the Angami Nagas, on Thursday picketed the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW) in Kohima, Nagaland. The protest was against the appointment of non-indigenous inhabitants of the Kohima district to grade-IV positions in various district offices of the department.
The ASU’s protest was in line with their ongoing efforts to address the issue of grade-IV appointments as per the state government’s order. The ASU referenced an Office Memorandum (OM) issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms on October 26, 2017.
The OM stated, “All direct recruitment vacancies in Grade-III and Grade-IV posts in District offices of the departments shall be filled up by the indigenous inhabitants of the respective districts.”
ASU president Khriesamhalie David Mere said that the student body is disappointed with the department for depriving the rights of the indigenous inhabitants and violating the OM.
ASU Vice President Dziesevisie Nakhro questioned why the indigenous inhabitants of the district were being deprived of their rights. He emphasised that the Angami community, predominantly settled in Kohima district, is facing deprivation of rights. He also pointed out the high rate of unemployment and the saturation of government jobs, in addition the deprivation.
ASU general secretary, Vimeyiekho Vitso, said that as the protest coincided with World Malaria Day, the need to eliminate the deprivation of indigenous rights alongside efforts to mitigate or eradicate malaria, should be undertaken by the department.
Elaborating further, he clarified that their protest targeted the grade-IV appointment at the district offices where the OM applies rather than against the appointments made at the directorate.
He reiterated that the ASU had previously communicated their concerns to the Government of Nagaland (GON) on July 4, 2023, urging the assurance of indigenous rights in accordance with the OM.
Despite previous efforts, he said that many departments continue to recruit in violation of the OM. As a result, the ASU resorted to filing Right to Information (RTI) requests to gain insight into the appointments made.
On January 18, he said that an RTI was filed with the DoFW, seeking details regarding the number of grade-IV appointments in the district hospital, populrly known as the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) and the count of ad-hoc or contract employees occupying positions designated for indigenous inhabitants of the districts.
However, on January 23, the directorate responded, stating that they had no records pertaining to the query and directed the requester to seek the information from the NHAK. Following this directive, another RTI was filed with the NHAK, which similarly redirected the request back to the Directorate.
After persistent pressure, he informed that it was revealed that 26 non-indigenous individuals of the district were appointed to grade-IV positions since the notification of the office memorandum till 2018.
He recalled a meeting with the principal director of the department where the ASU reiterated their unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights of indigenous inhabitants. However, despite their efforts, on February 18, more than a month after the ASU filed an RTI, an appointment at the Chief Medical Officer (CMO)’s office was made, violating the state government’s OM.
Irked by the developments, Vitso said that the latest appointment was taken as a challenge as to what extent the student body we can do. He said that the protest would be intensified till the rights of the indigenous inhabitants of the district are assured.
Vitso also raised another concern regarding the alleged transfer of Grade-IV posts from NHAK to Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR). Despite filing an RTI, he said that there has been no response even after 30 days.
In this regard, a complaint letter was submitted to the appellate authority as the ASU remain determined to fight for the rights of the indigenous inhabitants of the district.
Thursday’s picketing of the health directorate, he said, should serve as a warning to all concerned government departments that the rights of the indigenous inhabitants must not be deprived.
He informed that data collection is ongoing, and the ASU will “come hard” on all departments violating the OM.
The student leader provided an example from the Public Works Department (PWD), where a recent appointment in favour of a non-indigenous candidate in Kohima was stopped after the ASU lodged a complaint with the directorate and chief engineer of the PWD. However, he said that challenges persist, as there have been instances of appointments favouring non-indigenous candidates even after objections were raised.
Additionally, Vitso emphasized that all grade-III or grade-IV posts, which should fall under the purview of the Nagaland State Staff Selection Board (NSSB), must be rightfully handed over to the board for conducting examinations.
What is the government’s response?
Following a discussion between the ASU and the Commissioner and Secretary DoHFW, V Kezo, outside the directorate, an order was issued which stated that the department will immediately begin examination of the allegations of appointment of non-indigenous inhabitants in NHAK as well as the allegation of diversion of posts from NHAK to NIMSR within a period of two weeks.
Through an order, Kezo assured that necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the rights of the indigenous inhabitants of Kohima District are fully protected.
Further, he said that necessary instructions are being issued to the Directorate and subordinate offices to ensure that no cases of appointments are processed and forwarded to the Department in violation of the OM No. AR-3/Gen-174/2007(Pt) dated 26th October 2017 issued by the P&AR Department.
The details of the findings from this exercise, he assured, would be shared with the ASU at the earliest.
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In another order, the commissioner and secretary terminated the appointment of the non-indigenous inhabitant of the district who was recently appointed at the district CMO.
In response to the department’s orders, the ASU temporarily suspended their protest.
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